Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-11-25

TREACHERH.
from the 81. Louis Post Dispatch.
Tucson. ARIz., Nov. 5.-This
territory has probably furnished a
more varied and picturesque class
of robbers and highwaymen then
any other portion Of the United
States domain. Not that the IN
habitants of Arizona are inherently
worse than those of other border
countries; but its wide plains, lts
mountain Businesses, lts scarcity OF
water and the general conditions
that prevail here are favorable for
the exercise of deeds Of Outlawry.
The civil authorities have at last
pretty well triumphed over the old
time desperadoes, and the military
having driven of the Apaches, the
territory is now almost as secure a
place OF residence as New York
There is now and then a train rob-
berry, but it has not been long since
the civilized state OF Missouri had
this sort of diversion every month
or two, so that it is by no means a
novelty.
THE MOST RECENT TRAIN ROB
Berry
near here was the one about twenty
miles east on the Southern Pacific,
when two men stopped passenger
train about ten o'clock at night,
and took $4,000 from the Wells
Fargo express messenger. 1t was
the most daring train robbery yet
perpetrated, inasmuch as two men
did the entire Job, Notwithstanding
the presence of any quantity OF
guns and pistols among the rail-
way officials and passengers. The
robbers got away with their booty,
and have so far eluded every effort
at their capture. They were fol-
lowed a day or two, when rain
obliterated their trail, and that
was the end Of it.
But in the days before railroads,
when stage coaches answered the
purposes of the heavy travel, there
we're even more daring robberies
than this. Tucson had the honor
OF producing a man named.
BILL BRAZZLETON,
who made a business of robbing
stages single.handed, and in all
that goes to make up the wary,
skilful and successful highTayman
he took precedence of all his kind
aud yet holds it. | have heard
many s,Ories of BrazzletOn. He
was killed only six or seven years
ago, and most Of the people here
knew him we'll. While he was not
native of Tucson, he came here
when he was a young man and be-
gan work IN a livery stable. lie
was naturally of a wild and un-
tamable nature, and had ply sique
that was the perfection OF power
and symmetry. He was as quick
and agile as a panther and WAS the
easy master of any horse he un-
dertOok to ride. His occupation
was we'll suited to his taste. 1t
fell TO his duty to escort travellers
on long distances through an un-
inhabited and dangerous country,
and in many of the journeys there
would be such hazards and priva-
tons as are known only to the
hardy frontlersman. He could ride
a hundred miles day over a desert
and through mountain passes with
as much ease as a LOndoner can
canter down Rotten Row. He was
so superb IN every essential OF
physical prowess that a traveller
always felt safe under his guardian
ship. lie could drive as we'll as
he could ride, and he became
| familiar with all the stage routes OF
the country.
WHEN AT HONE,
he spent all his leisure in practicing
with his rifle and revolver, and be-
came the most certain shot in all
the region. This was an accom-
plishment to be proud of IN a COM
munity in which the art of shoot
ING was carried to the highest de
gree of excellence. People used
to wonder why Bill Brazzletor
practiced shooting so much. Il
was almost a mania with him bu
he afterward had need of all thu
skill he acquired and who know
, but that he even at that time ha'
an eye to the Dick Turpin style o
) life that he afterward lived? HI
eould do what | have never hear
% of any other mans dOing-stan'
fronting a target, turn somel
sault and hit the bulls eye thre
: times out of FIVE as he came up
T. This was done with revolver, a
: twenty PAGES. A shot by him froI
n the same weapon while standing
u walking, running or riding at fu
n speed would inevitably go jul
where he wanted it, and any ma
whom he got "the drop on" wa
= sure to fall as the bullet left i
re chamber. Bill was nearly thirt
= years old before he went into Il
n business of robbing stage cOache
e He was possessed of unusu
- .o-o n,